Chimney starter grill

ABSTRACT

The invention is a cooking product for use with a chimney-type charcoal starter. The product converts the chimney starter into a high-temperature, rapid-airflow cooking device for cooking food. The product stabilizes the chimney starter in an upright position so that the chimney starter can be used more safely as a cooking device. The product can be utilized with various chimney starters having substantially different configurations.

The invention is a cooking product for use with a chimney-type charcoal starter, referred to hereafter as the chimney starter. The product converts the chimney starter into a high-temperature, rapid-airflow cooking device for cooking food. The product stabilizes the chimney starter in an upright position so that the chimney starter can be used more safely as a cooking device. The product can be utilized with various chimney starters having substantially different configurations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the product connected to a chimney starter.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a stabilizer component.

FIG. 3 is a section view across line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a stabilizer component connected to a chimney starter.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the product connected to a chimney starter.

The chimney starter is a known device typically used for igniting charcoal briquettes quickly so that the burning charcoal briquettes can be used in conventional outdoor cooking devices to cook food. The chimney starter uses chimney-effect airflow to accelerate combustion of the briquettes. After igniting the briquettes in the chimney starter, the briquettes are typically removed from the chimney starter and deposited onto a barbecue or other firebox and spread out to provide a large heating area used for cooking. The chimney starter can be used to ignite various fuels in addition to charcoal.

The chimney starter has a hollow body. The hollow body has a bottom-side air inlet for admitting air needed for combustion, and a top-side gas exhaust for exhausting hot gases produced by burning the charcoal and other fuels inside the hollow body.

For example, in FIG. 1, the chimney starter 30 has a hollow body 31; the hollow body 31 has a bottom-side air inlet 33, and a top-side gas exhaust 32. The hollow body 31 also has radial air inlets, such as the radial air inlet 34.

The hollow body is shaped, between the inlet and the exhaust, so that it can generate chimney-effect airflow when charcoal and other fuels are burned inside the hollow body.

Chimney-effect airflow refers to the tendency of heated air and gas to rise in a duct or other substantially vertical passage, such as in a chimney starter hollow body, due to its lower density compared to the surrounding air or gas.

In the chimney starter, the burning charcoal inside the hollow body heats the air inside the hollow body and generates additional hot gases, causing the air and other gases to expand and rise upwards towards the top-side exhaust.

Chimney-effect airflow can occur in the hollow body when the hot gases rise from burning charcoal and the rising gases cause cooler air to enter the inlet and move towards the burning charcoal. The air from the inlet facilitates combustion of the charcoal, and the expanding gases, burning charcoal, and inlet air interact with the shape of the hollow body to produce a rapid flow of hot gases passing out of the chimney starter through the top-side gas exhaust.

The product is used with the chimney starter while charcoal and other fuels are burning within the chimney starter. As described above, the chimney starter produces a rapid flow of hot gases exiting the top-side exhaust and the product facilitates using the rapid flow of hot gases from the top-side exhaust as a heat source for high-temperature cooking.

The product comprises a grill for supporting the food during cooking. The grill in use is positioned above and proximal the top-side exhaust so that the food is exposed to the flow of hot gases.

The grill can be a porous metal structure, such as the grill 11 shown in FIG. 1. The grill 11 is formed from heavy-gauge wire. The grill 11 allows the hot gases to pass through the grill and heat the food on the grill. The grill 11 also allows fluids from the cooking food to pass through and fall into the chimney starter.

The grill can have various different configurations. For example, the grill can comprise skewers that pierce the food and that can be placed on top of the hollow body spanning the top-side exhaust. Alternatively, the grill can be a scaffold-like structure for suspending the food above the exhaust. Alternatively, the grill can be a non-porous grill, such as a pan and a pot. Various other grill configurations can provide the function of positioning the food above the exhaust.

The product further comprises a stabilizer for stabilizing the chimney starter while in use as a cooking device.

The stabilizer in use is fixedly connected to the chimney starter so that the stabilizer supports and stabilizes the chimney starter.

Chimney starters can be tall and slender so as to enhance the chimney effect. As a result, chimney starters can be unstable and easy to tip over from an upright position. Placing a grill and food on top of the chimney starter can increase the tendency to tip over by adding weight to the top of the chimney starter and by overhanging a perimeter of the hollow body.

The stabilizer in use has at least three stabilizer contact points that contact the supporting surface beneath the chimney starter. The stabilizer contact points make the chimney starter more stable against tipping by extending outwards from the chimney starter and contacting the supporting surface outside of the hollow body.

The stabilizer therefore can enable the chimney starter to tilt further from the upright position before the chimney starter tips over.

For example, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the stabilizer contact point 52 contacts the supporting surface 41 beneath the chimney starter 30. The contact point 52 extends outwards from the chimney starter 30 and provides additional stability.

The stabilizer can comprise a plurality of stabilizer components. For example, the stabilizer 50 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 comprises a plurality of stabilizer components such as the stabilizer component 51.

Each stabilizer component 51 from the plurality of stabilizer components further comprises a clip connector 54 and a leg 53. Each stabilizer component 51 has a stabilizer contact point 52. Other stabilizers can have stabilizer components having different configurations from the stabizer component 51.

The stabilizer comprises a plurality of re-positionable connectors. The re-positionable connectors enable the stabilizer to connect to chimney starters with various configurations, for example, to chimney starters with substantially different sizes and substantially different shapes.

The re-positionable connectors are re-positionable with respect to each other. For example, a first connector from the plurality of connectors and a second connector from the plurality of connectors can be positioned to connect to a chimney starter having a configuration. The distance between the first connector and the second connector can be changed, increasing and decreasing as needed so that the first and second connectors can connect to a different chimney starter having a different configuration.

Similarly, the position of the first connector with respect to the second connector can be changed so that the first and second connectors can connect to a different chimney starter having a different configuration.

For example, the chimney starter 30 in FIG. 1 has a hollow body 31 having the shape of a right, circular cylinder. The stabilizer 50, comprising a plurality of stabilizer components such as the component 51, connects to the chimney starter 30 via a re-positionable connector, such as the clip connector 54. The clip connector 54 clamps the hollow body 31 between the clip connector 54 and the stabilizer component leg 53.

The stabilizer 50 can be connected to a chimney starter with a substantially different configuration from the chimney starter 30 by re-positioning the re-positionable connectors so that they conform to the substantially different configuration.

Chimney starters can also vary configurations by having different sizes. For example, a chimney starter having a hollow body with shape of a circular cylinder with a different diameter from the chimney starter 30 would have a different configuration from chimney starter 30.

In FIG. 5, for example, the chimney starter 30A has a hollow body 31A having the shape of a rectangular cylinder. The stabilizer 50 connects to the hollow body 31A via the connector clips of each component of the plurality of stabilizer components.

Similarly, the grill can be positioned above the top-side exhaust of a chimney starter having a configuration, then removed and positioned above the top-side exhaust of a chimney starter having a different configuration.

In FIG. 1, for example, the grill 11 is positioned above the top-side exhaust 32 of the chimney starter 30. In FIG. 5, the grill 11 is positioned above the top-side exhaust 32A of the chimney starter 30A, which has a different configuration from the chimney starter 30.

The stabilizer can be detached and re-attached to the chimney starter without modifying the chimney starter.

The chimney starter can be used to start charcoal by detaching the stabilizer and removing the grill. The chimney starter can be used for high-temperature cooking by re-attaching the stabilizer and positioning the grill above the top-side exhaust.

For example, the stabilizer 50 can be detached from the chimney starter 30 by opening the clip connectors and releasing the hollow body 31 from between the clip connectors and the legs. The stabilizer 50 can be re-attached to the chimney starter 30 by opening the clip connectors and clamping the hollow body between the clip connectors and the legs.

The stabilizer component can be adjustable height-wise so that the chimney starter can be made level when the support surface is non-level and when the support surface is uneven.

For example, in FIG. 3, the hollow body 30 is shown in a lowered position (solid lines) that is achieved by adjusting the stabilizer component 51 upwards and also in a raised position (phantom lines) that is achieved by adjusting the stabilizer component 51 downwards.

The height-wise adjustable stabilizer component in use further stabilizes the chimney starter by ensuring the maximum number of stabilizer contact points are contacting the supporting surface.

The stabilizer can be an offset stabilizer. The offset stabilizer offsets the chimney starter from the supporting surface to ensure the free flow of air to the bottom-side inlet.

Since airflow through the inlet is an important component for combustion and for chimney-effect airflow, it is important that the stabilizer allow air to freely enter the inlet.

The stabilizer 50 is an offset stabilizer. As seen in FIG. 3, the stabilizer 50 in use offsets the chimney starter from the supporting surface 41, providing a gap between the supporting surface 41 and the bottom-side inlet 33. The offset creates additional space for air to enter the bottom-side inlet. 

1. A cooking product for use with a chimney starter, the chimney starter having a hollow body, the hollow body having a bottom-side air inlet, and a top-side gas exhaust, the hollow body having a shape between the inlet and the exhaust that enables chimney-effect air flow, the product comprising: a grill for supporting food during cooking, the grill being positioned above and proximal to the top-side gas exhaust so that in use the food is exposed to hot gases exiting the exhaust; a stabilizer in use being fixedly connected to the chimney starter; the stabilizer being detachable and re-attachable to the chimney starter without modifying the chimney starter; the stabilizer in use extending outwards from the hollow body; the stabilizer in use comprising at least three stabilizer contact points; the at least three stabilizer contact points contacting a supporting surface beneath the chimney starter; the at least three stabilizer contact points contacting the supporting surface outside of the hollow body; the stabilizer having a plurality of re-positionable connectors for connecting to the chimney starter; and a first connector from the plurality of re-positionable connectors being re-positionable with respect to a second connector from the plurality of re-positionable connectors.
 2. A cooking product for use with a chimney starter, the chimney starter having a hollow body, the hollow body having a bottom-side air inlet, and a top-side gas exhaust, the hollow body having a shape between the inlet and the exhaust that enables chimney-effect air flow, the product comprising: a grill for supporting food during cooking, the grill being positioned above and proximal to the top-side gas exhaust so that in use the food is exposed to hot gases exiting the exhaust; a stabilizer in use being fixedly connected to the chimney starter; the stabilizer being detachable and re-attachable to the chimney starter without modifying the chimney starter; the stabilizer in use extending outwards from the hollow body; the stabilizer in use comprising at least three stabilizer contact points; the at least three stabilizer contact points contacting a supporting surface beneath the chimney starter; the at least three stabilizer contact points contacting the supporting surface outside of the hollow body; the stabilizer having a plurality of re-positionable connectors for connecting to the chimney starter; a first connector from the plurality of re-positionable connectors being re-positionable with respect to a second connector from the plurality of re-positionable connectors; and the stabilizer being an offset stabilizer.
 3. The cooking product of claim 1 where the stabilizer further comprises: a plurality of stabilizer components, any first stabilizer component from the plurality of stabilizer components being functionally interchangeable with any second stabilizer from the plurality of stabilizer components; each stabilizer component from the plurality of stabilizer components in use being fixedly connected to the chimney starter; each stabilizer component from the plurality of stabilizer components being detachable and re-attachable to the chimney starter without modifying the chimney starter; each stabilizer component having a re-positionable connector for connecting to the chimney starter; and each connector being re-positionable with respect to another connector.
 4. The cooking product of claim 2 where the stabilizer further comprises: a plurality of stabilizer components, any first stabilizer component from the plurality of stabilizer components being functionally interchangeable with any second stabilizer from the plurality of stabilizer components; each stabilizer component from the plurality of stabilizer components in use being fixedly connected to the chimney starter; each stabilizer component from the plurality of stabilizer components being detachable and re-attachable to the chimney starter without modifying the chimney starter; each stabilizer component having a re-positionable connector for connecting to the chimney starter; and each connector being re-positionable with respect to another connector.
 5. A cooking product for use with a chimney starter, the chimney starter having a hollow body, the hollow body having a bottom-side air inlet, and a top-side gas exhaust, the hollow body having a shape between the inlet and the exhaust that enables chimney-effect air flow, the product comprising: a grill for supporting food during cooking, the grill being positioned above and proximal to the top-side gas exhaust so that in use the food is exposed to hot gases exiting the exhaust; a stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising at least three stabilizer components; each stabilizer component in use being fixedly connected to the chimney starter; each stabilizer component being detachable and re-attachable to the chimney starter without modifying the chimney starter; each stabilizer component having a stabilizer contact point, the stabilizer contact point in use contacting the supporting surface beneath the chimney starter; the stabilizer contact point in use contacting the supporting surface outside of the hollow body; each stabilizer component having a clip connector for connecting to the chimney starter; each clip connector being re-positionable with respect to another clip connector; each stabilizer component being adjustable height-wise to enable leveling the chimney starter on the support surface; and the stabilizer being an offset stabilizer. 